Runners leave the start line as the field for the full marathon takes off during the Surf City Marathon at the intersection of the Pacific Coast Highway and Huntington Street on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Marcelo Ortiz of Huntington Beach cheers for runners in Huntington Beach Central Park during the Surf City Marathon on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Chad Kempel of Mountain House, Calif. runs with his quintuplets in a stroller through Huntington Beach Central Park while competing in the full marathon during the Surf City Marathon on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

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The field of the full marathon runs through Huntington Beach Central Park during the Surf City Marathon on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Mariel Mendoza of Riverside celebrates as she is the first woman across the half marathon finish line coming in at 1:18:30 during the Surf City Marathon on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Runners leave the start line as the field for the full marathon takes off during the Surf City Marathon at the intersection of the Pacific Coast Highway and Huntington Street on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Rick Bingham of Lake Elsinore prepare for the Wheelchair Half Marathon at the start of the Surf City Marathon at the intersection of the Pacific Coast Highway and Huntington Street on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Tony Arreola of Irvine lies on the ground after finishing the half marathon during the Surf City Marathon on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Huntington Beach, Calif. Arreola was able to get up without medical assistance and continue down the chute. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Erick Mejia of Norwalk runs down the Pacific Coast Highway in Rams gear while competing in the half marathon during the Surf City Marathon on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Jeremy Porter of Lake Forest celebrates as he crosses the half marathon finish line fifth during the Surf City Marathon on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Lihn Dinh runs through Huntington Beach Central Park while competing in the full marathon during the Surf City Marathon on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

A duck swims on Talbert Lake and runners are reflected as they run through Huntington Beach Central Park past the Public Library while competing in the full marathon during the Surf City Marathon on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Tania Lull of Chula Vista, left, and Amanda Costa of San Diego, right, run through Huntington Beach Central Park while competing in the full marathon during the Surf City Marathon on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Runners run through Huntington Beach Central Park while competing in the full marathon during the Surf City Marathon on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

The Mesa View Middle School band plays for runners in Huntington Beach Central Park during the Surf City Marathon on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Runners leave the start line as the field for the full marathon takes off during the Surf City Marathon at the intersection of the Pacific Coast Highway and Huntington Street on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Sugar Osako of Portland Oregon, right, wins the half marathon in 1:02:59 as Tetsuya Yoroizaka, left, takes second during the Surf City Marathon on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Chavet Breslin of Denver, Colo. runs on the Huntington Beach bike path while competing in the marathon during the Surf City Marathon on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Runners run through Huntington Beach Central Park past the Public Library while competing in the full marathon during the Surf City Marathon on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

A runner carries an American flag after the start of the full marathon during the Surf City Marathon at the intersection of the Pacific Coast Highway and Huntington Street on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Megan Roth of Minneapolis, Minn. smiles as she is the second woman to cross the half marathon finish line clocking 1:20:19 during the Surf City Marathon on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Tiffany Costello of Coto de Caza celebrates as she comes to the finish line as the third finisher in the women’s half marathon during the Surf City Marathon on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Marathon winner Spencer Johnson of San Deigo is interviewed after finishing the race in 2:39:05 during the Surf City Marathon on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Ivan Wang of Trabuco Canyon crosses the finish line in the half marathon during the Surf City Marathon on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Caroline Boller of Solvang is the first woman to cross the marathon finish line in 2:55:44 during the Surf City Marathon on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Caroline Boller of Solvang is the first woman to cross the marathon finish line in 2:55:44 during the Surf City Marathon on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Sven Nolte of Pasadena poses with his son Cornelius Nolte after Sven finished the half marathon pushing Cornelius in a stroller during the Surf City Marathon on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Darren Hause of Riverside poses for a selfie with his medal after the half marathon during the Surf City Marathon on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Grace Brooks of Newport Beach receives a medal for being pushed in a stroller for the half marathon by her father Doug Brooks during the Surf City Marathon on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Rudy Sanchez of Pico Rivera kisses his wife Michelle Sanchez as he nears the finish line while running in the half marathon during the Surf City Marathon on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Runner pass the Huntington Beach Pier as they compete in the half marathon during the Surf City Marathon on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Fady Sheeshia and Ryan Polk run on the Huntington Beach bike path while competing in the marathon during the Surf City Marathon on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Jake Hudelson of San Clemente runs the marathon in Patriots gear during the Surf City Marathon on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Ron Kalich runs on the Huntington Beach bike path as it rains while competing in the marathon during the Surf City Marathon on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Bianca Vasquez and Alex Vasquez, both of Eastvale, cheer for competitors in the half marathon during the Surf City Marathon on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Runners leave the start line as the field for the full marathon takes off during the Surf City Marathon at the intersection of the Pacific Coast Highway and Huntington Street on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Eastern states suffered through negative-degree temperatures incurred by the wrath of the Polar Vortex. So those lucky enough to live in or visit Southern California right now can weather a few raindrops, for gosh sake.

That was the attitude of the 14,000 people who showed up early Sunday morning, Feb. 3, to power through the 23rd annual Surf City Marathon & Half Marathon – come rain or the threat of rain. But the weather did give cause to pause for about 3,000 who signed up to run but didn’t show, according to marathon spokesman Dan Cruz. “The rain certainly impacted the weekend turnout,” he said. “But all in all, given the conditions, it was a successful event.”

The three-day event was not designed only for serious marathoners. Other races included the one-mile timed fun run the Cowabunga Challenge, a 5K Run and Walk and a half-marathon. The Surf City Marathon attracted participants from about 40 states and 20 countries.

Along their 26.2-mile path, marathon runners were treated to a jog along the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve – which were a lot wetter than usual.

After majoring in journalism at the University of Texas, Susan Christian Goulding got her start as a copy editor and reporter at the (late, great) Los Angeles Herald Examiner. She then worked at the (late, great) Santa Monica Outlook and the Daily Breeze as a features editor, writer and columnist. She moved to the Orange County bureau of the Los Angeles Times as a features and business writer. After that five-year stint, she worked as a correspondent for People magazine and a regular freelancer for Readers Digest while raising her two kids, Erin and Matt. During this time, she also wrote a weekly column for the Daily Breeze. Next, she gave up all possibility of free time and earned a teaching credential and masters at UCI. She taught English for four often rewarding and always challenging years in Compton, then at LMU and El Camino College. Missing journalism, Goulding circled back to her original career last year, joining the Orange County Register as a reporter. She also enjoys her return to column writing for the newspaper's OC Home magazine.

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